Jones to return punts

With rookie Trindon Holliday out of the picture because of thumb surgery, the incumbent, Jacoby Jones, will return punts for the Texans despite what's hoped to be an increased role for him as the third receiver. And that's fine with Jones. The more hats he wears the better.

"I'm ready to rock and roll," he said. "I love returning kicks. I want to be that athlete that everybody fears, whatever they ask me to do."

Holliday, one of the college game's top punt returners when he was at LSU last season, was getting a look from the Texans in order to let Jones focus on honing his technique at receiver. But the injured thumb required him to play with a splint and he wasn't effective in the first two preseason games, even muffing a ball to set up a Saints touchdown Saturday.

Holliday had a procedure to fix a tendon Wednesday.

Jones didn't agree with the notion that taking away his return duties, which he has handled for the past three seasons, would enhance his contributions offensively.

"I don't know what the thinking was," he said. "It came from upstairs, not me."

Sharpton gets involved

The linebacker situation remains unsettled because of injuries, but at least rookie Darryl Sharpton got in some work Wednesday — "about a quarter of the plays," coach Gary Kubiak said.

Sharpton, who took a shot to his left knee on a chop block in the fourth quarter against the Saints on Saturday night and has some swelling in the joint, hadn't practiced Tuesday.

He remains "day-to-day," according to Kubiak. But Sharpton said he would be ready for the Dallas Cowboys.

"In this upcoming game, I plan to do some good things," he said. "I'm ready to go. Either side (strong or weak), I just want to be out there."

With veterans Danny Clark (knee) and Xavier Adibi (groin) also hurting, Kubiak said: "We'll have to wake up Friday morning and take a look at who's available. Our starters are not going to change."